Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

Food systems

Accessing FAO's knowledge resources

Knowledge is at the core of FAO’s mandate.

Ahead of the Food Systems Summit, join the Publications team to find out more about where to find FAO publications, the different formats available, how you can re-use the material, how to sign up for the latest releases, and more. Each of the five sessions in the series links to one of the Food Systems Summit Action Tracks.

Last on the agenda: Wednesday 22 September at 2 pm (Rome time) – "Knowledge session on Action Area: Build resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stress".

This session will focus on resources around emergencies, resilience and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please register here. More information on FAO resources can be found here

If you missed the previous webinars, check out our resources related to the other Action Areas, including “Ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all”, “Shift to sustainable consumption patterns”, “Boost nature-positive production”, and “Advance equitable livelihoods, decent work, & empowered communities”.

Call for submissions
Calls for submissions

What are your experiences in the use and application of the CFS Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI) for improving food security and nutrition?

A global thematic event (GTE) will be organized during the October 2022 Plenary Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) to share experiences and good practices in the use and application of the CFS Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI) endorsed in 2014. The CFS invites stakeholders to share their experiences and good practices in applying the CFS-RAI by 15 April 2022 to inform the GTE.

Webinars and workshops
ESA-SOFI-webinar

Transforming food systems for affordable healthy diets and addressing key drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition

This webinar was held as an input into the 2021 edition of The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the WorldThe webinar explored what it takes to address key drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition with coherent and complementary solutions that will lead to affordable healthy diets, sustainably and inclusively.   

Available in:
Attendees: 439 / Registrations: 841
Call for submissions
SOFI-Call for submissions

Call for best practices in transforming food systems for affordable healthy diets and addressing key drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition

The inter-Agency writing team of the 2021 edition of The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) invites you to share best practices and lessons learned in what it takes – in very practical and innovative ways – to transform food systems for better access to nutritious foods and affordable healthy diets.

WEBINAR - Nutrition-sensitive agriculture and food systems

The technical webinar "Nutrition-sensitive agriculture and food systems" is part of the series organised by the FAO elearning Academy, Agreenium (l'Institut agronomique, vétérinaire et forestier de France) and UN-ESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific). 

The webinar aims to: 1) provide an overview of the existing resources on the formulation of nutrition-sensitive outcomes for sustainable food system policies, investments and programmes; 2) promote an understanding of current country needs to prioritize interventions, and 3) share the results of national research as evidence of the importance of sustainable nutrition-sensitive food systems.

The webinar will take place on 24 February 2021, 15:00-16:30 CET.

Please register here to participate in the event.

WEBINAR - How can we produce food and take action for climate and nature?

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in agriculture are a critical solution for positive change. Farmers, ranchers, and food producers are on the frontlines of climate change and play an important role in developing and implementing solutions. Climate and biodiversity actors are increasingly seeing agriculture as a central solution set and they are engaging the agricultural community to solve our collective challenges. When deployed properly, NbS can provide a triple benefit: improving the productivity and resilience of agriculture, mitigating and adapting to climate change, and enhancing nature and biodiversity.

FAO and The Nature Conservancy collaborated to explore the potential of NbS in the much-needed transformation of our food systems. This collaboration has generated three reports addressing NbS in agricultural production systems: 1) a literature review on the state of the science; 2) a policy brief on the case and pathways for adoption, and 3) a finance guide for identifying and creating investable projects. A jointly organized webinar will address the question of how NbS in agriculture can help address climate change and conserve land, water and biodiversity.

The webinar will take place on 11 February at 10:00 AM EST.

Please register here to attend.

Consultation
HLPE

Data collection and analysis tools for food security and nutrition - HLPE e-consultation on the Report’s scope

During its 46th Plenary Session (14-18 October 2019), the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) adopted its four-year Programme of Work (MYPoW 2020-2023), which includes a request to the High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (CFS-HLPE) to produce a report on “Data collection and analysis tools” for food security and nutrition, to be presented at the 50th Plenary session of the CFS in October 2022. To implement this CFS request, the HLPE is launching an open e-consultation to seek views and comments on the scope and building blocks of the report.

Call for applications for the second edition of the International Innovation Award for Sustainable Agriculture

Since 2018, FAO and the Federal Government of Switzerland encourage innovation by publically recognizing best practices through the International Innovation Award for Sustainable Food and Agriculture. The award does not only acknowledge digital innovation, but also new or existing products or practices that are used in a specific context, to increase effectiveness, competitiveness and resilience. The second edition of this Award has been launched, which is open to individuals, private companies and institutions. It comprises two categories:

• Category A awards excellence in digitization and innovation for sustainable food systems (USD 30 000)

• Category B recognises an innovation that empowers youth in sustainable food systems (USD 30 000)

In the spirit of the forthcoming Food Systems’ Summit in 2021 and aligned to the aspirations and goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the candidates should demonstrate the important role of their innovation in transforming food systems through sustainable food and agriculture and the improvement of food security and nutrition for all, particularly in the face of increased environmental challenges. In line with the requirements and technical competencies of the Federal Office of Agriculture of Switzerland, all innovations must apply to agriculture and pastoral systems only. 

This call is open until 19 March 2021.

More information on this call and on how to apply can be accessed here

18-22 January: Global Forum for Food and Agriculture 2021

The Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) is an international conference on central issues of global agricultural and food policies, held in Berlin on an annual basis. The 2021 event will take place virtually on 18–22 January focusing on the topic of how can agriculture provide the world with food in the long-term for a balanced diet despite pandemics and climate change.

As in the past years, FAO will participate in the GFFA at several levels, including the following events:

CFS: Water and climate recommendations to feed the world

18 January 2021, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (CET)

The discussion, organized jointly by FAO and the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), will look at water as the primary medium through which we all feel the effects of climate change.

More information

Managing city region food systems – Enhancing strength and resilience against pandemics and climate change

19 January 2021, 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. (CET)

The joint panel discussion of FAO and the Global Partnership on Sustainable Urban Agriculture and Food Systems, will provide a forum for urban and national representatives to share experiences and review how the City Region Food Systems approach has helped them deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to define a vision on the way forward.

More information

How can innovation help strengthen the sustainability of food systems and prevent future pandemics?

19 January 2021, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (CET)

The panel will bring together a group of high-level policy makers, including FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, to discuss the impacts of the pandemic on food and agriculture and the role of innovation in this respect.

More information

Attending these virtual events is free of charge, it only requires prior registration through the GFFA website here.